MMAjunkie '2017 Upset of the Year': Thug Rose! Thug Rose! Thug Rose!

Getting in the cage was almost the easy part for Rose Namajunas.

Before her title-winning triumph and upset over Joanna Jedrzejczyk(14-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) at UFC 217, it seemed to Namajunas (7-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) like some unseen force was trying to keep her from her goal. So many things were off, she imagined the universe was trying to distract her.

Keeping her focus was one of her biggest tasks heading into the Nov. 7 pay-per-view event at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

“The one thing that kept me calm was that I’ve been in situations like this, and I’ve learned from them,” Namajunas said after stunning Jedrzejczyk to earn MMAjunkie’s “2017 Upset of the Year.”

The most predictable challenge in the event buildup came from Jedrzejczyk, though Namajunas didn’t anticipate the level of animosity that would be directed at her. The champ seemed to relish the opportunity to intimidate. As the fight drew near, she said Namajunas wasn’t mentally stable enough to hold the title, a particularly personal attack considering Namajunas’ family history with mental illness.

Namajunas wouldn’t engage with her antagonist and dedicated her fight to raising awareness about mental health issues. She took the slights in stride.

“All the negativity that I felt coming from her, it just reminded me of where I came from,” she said afterward at the press conference. “I wasn’t going to let that shut me down. I’ve dealt with a lot worse in my life.”

But then there were difficulties that were out of her control, even right up to the moment she walked to the cage. On the week of the fight, her flight was delayed. She couldn’t sleep with the constant blaring of sirens at the host hotel. The UFC didn’t play her walkout song at the arena.

At every turn, Namajunas repeated a mantra she’d come up with in camp: “Confidence, condition, composure, content. I’m a champion.”

Jedrzejczyk, one fight away from tying former bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey’s UFC-women’s record of six title defenses, boasted no one would ever take away her belt. She targeted another UFC title at flyweight with a win over Namajunas. Final betting odds had her as big as a 7-1 favorite.

But shortly after the opening bell rang, it was clear Namajunas was no easy stopover. Composed and confident, she dropped Jedrzejczyk with a right hand at the 1:51 mark of the first round. Roughly one minute later, she did it again with a left hook. Jedrzejczyk turtled as a flurry of punches came from Namajunas, and referee “Big” John McCarthy stepped in to stop the punishment.

Shocked, UFC commentator and light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier simply repeated Namajunas’ nickname – “Thug Rose!” – over and over.

Namajunas was the first of three title changes at UFC 217. Bantamweight champ Cody Garbrandt lost his grudge match with T.J. Dillashaw, and Georges St-Pierre returned from a four-year layoff to usurp Michael Bisping at middleweight. But given all the bullying Namajunas had endured beforehand, her comeuppance of Jedrzejczyk was one of the best underdog stories of the year.

“Thug Rose” is now the champ, and the “Upset of the Year” winner.

Also see:

• MMAjunkie’s ‘2017 Breakout Fighter of the Year’: UFC newcomer wasted no time rising up
• MMAjunkie’s 2017 ‘Newcomer of the Year’: Despite late slip-up, Californian made mark in hurry
• MMAjunkie ‘2017 Round of the Year’: Absolutely menacing highlight
• MMAjunkie’s ‘2017 Robbery of the Year’: The MMA gods giveth, and they taketh away
• MMAjunkie’s ‘2017 Coach of the Year’: Former champion becoming standout instructor
• MMAjunkie’s ‘2017 Gym of the Year’: New entrant makes immediate impact

For complete coverage of UFC 217, check out the UFC Events section of the site.